St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – September 14, 2023: Proclamations, Ordinances, and FY2024 Budget Hearing
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – September 14, 2023
The St. Petersburg City Council met on September 14, 2023, starting at approximately 6:30 p.m. and recessing for a public hearing on the FY2024 budget at 6:00 p.m. The meeting included proclamations, first readings of two ordinances, a resolution supporting the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, fiscal policy updates, and the first public hearing on the proposed millage rate and budget. Council voted to approve most agenda items, with notable dissents on the minority- and women-owned business enterprise ordinance and the millage rate.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda (routine items) unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On the pet‑sales ordinance (E1): Jack Burke (Tampa Bay House Rabbit Rescue) spoke in support, citing overwhelmed rescues and the need to reduce rabbit sales. Susan Hall (Sun Coast House Rabbit Rescue) urged the ban, noting that rescues are full and pet stores sell rabbits as loss leaders.
- On the FY2024 budget:
- Cynthia Lippert (District 2) urged the city to commit to specific numbers of affordable housing units and to retain ownership of the Gas Plant property. She also requested maintaining funding for public schools.
- Corey Givens (SEIU) called for more funding for homeless services, black history books in recreation centers, and affordable housing, stating that the budget does not reflect the needs of the most vulnerable.
- Nathan Zupassan (USFSP student, Florida Rising) requested $2.5 million over five years for youth development in Child’s Park, citing the area’s dense youth population.
- Steven DeVirge (USFSP student) provided statistics on the benefits of after‑school programs, including a 27% increase in test scores and a 75% decline in juvenile arrests in one housing project.
- Roxy Nelson (1199 SEIU) said the budget’s investments in affordable housing and homelessness are insufficient, noting that a mother of five works two jobs while living in her car.
- William Kilgore (St. Pete Tenants) supported a right‑to‑counsel program and criticized the high police funding relative to crime clearance rates, urging expansion of the CALL program outside the police department.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations: The council recognized Big Brothers Big Sisters Month, Falls Prevention Awareness Week (Sept. 18–22), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15), and St. Petersburg Care Fest 2023 Day of Caring (Sept. 30).
- Ordinance E1 – Pet Sales Ban on Rabbits: The council voted 6–0 to move the ordinance to a public hearing on Sept. 28. It adds rabbits to the existing ban on retail sales of dogs and cats, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
- Ordinance E2 – Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Program: After a legal discussion about constitutionality (citing the Students for Fair Admissions decision and Richmond v. Croson), the council voted 6–1 to move forward. Councilmember Montanari voted no, citing concerns about legal liability and potential conflicts with state law. A legal memorandum was requested.
- Resolution F1 – Fiscal Policy Amendments: The council unanimously approved changes to the general fund fund balance target (from 10% to 12%), setting a target for the Sunken Gardens operating fund, and allowing early prepayment of pension contributions.
- Resolution G1 – Supporting the IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism: The council voted 7–0 (Councilmembers Floyd and Mohammed absent) to adopt the non‑binding definition. Public comment included both support (e.g., from the Florida Holocaust Museum, Jewish Community Relations Council) and opposition (e.g., Alexander Westlock argued that some examples conflate criticism of Israel with anti‑Semitism). Councilmember Mohammed, absent for the vote, had raised concerns about the definition’s breadth and potential to stifle free speech.
- New Business G2 – Special Events Waiver (Edge District): The council voted 4–3 (Driscoll, Gerdis, Hanowitz, Montanari yes) to draft an ordinance allowing a waiver of the 60‑day lead time for special events, after a request from a business district with a new executive director. Councilmember Fix Sanders expressed concern about setting a precedent without committee review.
- Economic Development H1 – Liaison to Grow Together Leadership Alliance: The council unanimously approved designating the chair of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee as the council liaison.
- FY2024 Budget First Public Hearing: The council reviewed the proposed millage rate of 6.4675 mills (a 0.0575‑mill decrease from FY2023, but a 9.34% increase over the rollback rate). The budget includes $8 million for housing, $8.7 million for land acquisition, increased funding for youth programs, the CALL program, fire cadets, and arts grants. The general fund is $364.5 million, with public safety accounting for 52.6%. Utility rates were previously approved. Councilmembers debated the trade‑offs between property tax relief and utility rate increases; Councilmember Floyd proposed using the property tax savings to offset utility costs for residents. Councilmember Montanari noted a 31% annual increase in public works spending.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance E1 (pet sales ban on rabbits): Passed 6‑0 on first reading (Fix Sanders and Floyd absent).
- Ordinance E2 (MBE/WBE program): Passed 6‑1 on first reading (Montanari no; Floyd absent).
- Resolution F1 (fiscal policy amendments): Approved unanimously (Floyd absent).
- Resolution G1 (IHRA anti‑Semitism): Approved 7‑0 (Floyd and Mohammed absent).
- New business G2 (special events waiver): Approved 4‑3 (Driscoll, Gerdis, Hanowitz, Montanari yes; Fix Sanders, Gabbard, Mohammed no; Floyd absent).
- Item H1 (liaison appointment): Approved unanimously (Floyd and Mohammed absent).
- Budget public hearing – millage rate resolution: Approved 7‑1 (Floyd no).
- Budget appropriations ordinance (first reading): Approved 7‑1 (Floyd no).
- Tentative budget resolution: Approved 7‑1 (Floyd no).
The second and final public hearing on the FY2024 budget is scheduled for September 28, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch. District 1, Copley Girdis. District 2. And Council Chair, Brandy Gabbard. District 3, Edmonton Mary. District 4, Lissette Hanowitz. District 5. And Council Vice Chair, Deborah Fig Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll. District 7, John Mohammed. And District 8, Richie Floyd. Well, good afternoon, everyone. We will call to order the September 14th, 2023 City Council meeting, beginning with a roll call. Curtis. Here, Abbott. Here. Montaneri. Here. Anowitz. Here. Sanders. Here. Here. Mohammed. Here. Glow. All right. We will have our invocation by Rabbi Philip Weintraub from the Congregation Binaya Srell of St. Petersburg. Following that, uh, we will do the pledge allegiance. So please join us in standing. So before we begin, I want to offer my thanks to the council for the invoc for the invitation for the invocation. It's a blessing to be here. Um, I also want to offer my appreciation and thanks to the St. Petersburg Police Department this week for their responding so promptly to a hateful bomb threat that our congregation had this week. They were professional, they were compassionate, and they were extremely thorough. And I, in a stressful situation, knowing you are in good hands makes all the difference. So thank you very much. While I'm disgusted at the hate that led to the false threat, I'm grateful to know we live in a community where we care for one another. Tomorrow night begins the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. It's a time when we believe that the Holy One looks at our actions, the choices that we've made over courts of the year and sits in judgment. And it's a time where we sit in judgment to ourselves, not on others, where we look at our actions, our choices, how we treated others, and ask what did we do right and what can we do better. You know, we live in this world that is filled with blessing, but too far too often we see the hatred and the violence and the loss, but every single one of us has the opportunity to reduce that harm and increase the love. Each of us has the opportunity to shove show love, not hate, and each of us can make a difference in the lives of ourselves and all of those around us. Since the time of the Bible, Jews have been the canary in the coal mine. When Jews are hated, others are persecuted not long thereafter. For many years in this country, anti-Semitism was overt and open. And we felt blessed for many years that it seemed like it had retreated into a dark closet.
openpublica.com